Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said he is not concerned with his team being too emotional when Eric LeGrand's number is retired at halftime of Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan at High Point Solutions Stadium.
(Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports)

Rutgers coach Kyle Flood had an interesting take when asked today if he was worried about his team being too emotional for Saturday's home game against Eastern Michigan, when Eric LeGrand's No. 52 will be retired in a halftime ceremony.

LeGrand, paralyzed from the neck down since making a tackle for the Scarlet Knights against Army on Oct. 16, 2010, will be the first player in school history to have his jersey number retired.

But Flood said he is unconcerned with his team being over-hyped because many of his current players only know LeGrand "as a celebrity" and as part of the school's football radio broadcast team -- not as an ex-player and former teammate.

“It’s not for me," Flood said, when asked if it's a concern that his players might be too emotional. "I remember it was probably even more of a possibility when Eric led the team out against West Virginia (on Oct. 29, 2011) because most of those players had played with Eric.

"There is a significant portion of our team now that only know Eric as a celebrity, somebody they see on the ESPYs or on a Subway commercial."

The image of LeGrand, in his wheelchair in the snow, leading the Rutgers team out of the tunnel at High Point Solutions Stadium against West Virginia in 2011 was voted Sports Illustrated's "Moment of the Year."

"Eric is actually coming to talk to the team on Tuesday, which I think will be good for our younger players who haven’t met him and don’t see him the way I do and the few guys that are left," Flood said. "He is a former Rutgers football player. He is an alum. And (he is) somebody who is always going to be a special part of our program. I think the ceremony will be a great thing for our program and for Eric and his family but I think once the ball gets kicked off we will be focused.”

LeGrand, a former defensive tackle, was injured making a tackle on a kickoff against Army at MetLife Stadium. The former Colonia High School star played for the Scarlet Knights from 2008-11.